Women's basketball powerhouse UConn triumphs over South Carolina to secure their 12th NCAA Championship title.
Title: UConn Huskies Dominate Deal with Dominant Display in NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game
In a rematch for the ages, the UConn Huskies claimed the record 12th national title in women's college basketball, crushing the defending champions South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59. [1] [2] This triumph marked the Huskies' first championship since 2016, cementing their place as one of the sport's most prestigious programs.
Azzi Fudd, the 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, poured in 24 points to lead the charge for UConn. [1] Fudd averaged an impressive 21.4 points per game throughout the tournament, dominating on the Court. [1] Much of the Huskies' offensive prowess can be attributed to the dynamic duo of Fudd and Paige Bueckers, along with rookie phenom Sarah Strong, who combined for 65 points in the historic victory.
The Huskies' second-half surge left South Carolina struggling to keep pace. With Strong's scoring and rebounding efforts and Fudd's relentless assault on the Gamecocks' defense, UConn pulled away and never looked back. [1] [2] As the lead grew, so too did the buzzer-beating excitement at Amalie Arena, as the Huskies inched closer to the championship.
Emotions ran high following the victory, with tears flowing from the eyes of Bueckers, likely the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft. Holizing with Head Coach Geno Auriemma on the court, Bueckers shared a heartfelt embrace, confessing, "He told me he loved me, and I told him I hated him." [3] A sentiment doubtlessly borne out of the fierce competitiveness that characterizes their winning spirit.
It was a bittersweet moment for Bueckers, recognizing the culmination of her UConn career with a national title. She concluded her collegiate journey by surpassing Maya Moore as the UConn player with the most points in the NCAA tournament, measuring 477 points. [1]
Coach Auriemma, now with 12 national championships and a staggering 12-1 record in finals, demonstrated the longevity of his coaching prowess. At 68 years old, he became the oldest coach to win a championship, reaffirming his standing as one of the greats in the history of American sports. [3]
Just weeks before the tournament began, doubts surrounding the Huskies' performance lingered. With an underwhelming preseason scrimmage loss, some speculated that the team might miss out on the NCAA tournament entirely. [3] However, the Huskies worked tirelessly to erase those doubts and returned stronger than ever, ultimately prevailing in their title quest.
Notable absences from South Carolina's starting lineup left them unable to mount an effective challenge against the Huskies. Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson managed to score 10 points each, but it wasn't enough to bridge the gap. [2]
Bree Hall from South Carolina summed up the Gamecocks' disappointing performance, acknowledging, "We just told each other to keep fighting." [4] Hall and her teammates vowed to return stronger next season, convinced that their dynasty is far from over. [4]
- https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34626674/onenewsnow-com-uconn-winners-umass-womens-basketball-state-championship
- https://theuconnblog.com/uconn-women-winning-national-title/
- https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34648864/takeaways-asons-2025-womens-basketball-national-championship-game
- https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/gamecocks/article263859752.html
- https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/34654584/stephen-a-smith-geno-auriemma-greatest-coach-american-sports-history-criticized-espn-sports-center-take
- Though the South Carolina Gamecocks struggled to maintain pace against the UConn Huskies in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game, they were unable to capitalize on their chances, ultimately losing with a score of 82-59, due in part to the Huskies' advantage in executing their offensive plays.
- South Carolina's absence of key players in their starting lineup contributed to their difficulties in challenging the dominance of the UConn Huskies, making it difficult for them to gain an advantage and close the gap against the powerhouse team.
- Despite the doubts and concerns regarding their performance during the preseason, the UConn Huskies demonstrated their resilience, erasing their critics' doubts and executing their game strategy exceptionally well, proving once again that they are a formidable force in women's college sports under the coaching guidance of Geno Auriemma.
